Dental Amalgam Fillings and the Use of Technological Devices as an Environmental Factor: Updating the Cumulative Mercury Exposure-based Hypothesis of Autism

The molecular basis of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) still remains obscure and little is known about the specific gene-environment interactions that may increase the prevalence of the disorder. There has been a lot of controversy in the past regarding the association of thimerosal, a mercury (Hg)-containing preservative in vaccines, and the increased probability of developing autism among children. In 2011, as a more consensual theory, we alternatively proposed the “cumulative Hg exposure-based hypothesis” which considers not only one but the total contribution of different environmental sources of this element, such as maternal amalgam fillings, pollution, food, and also thimerosal-preserved vaccines together with a genetic/biochemical susceptibility to remove Hg from the body. Recently, researchers have shown that exposure to microwave radiation emitted by common technological devices (e.g., mobile phones, mobile base stations, and MRI machines) can lead to increased release of Hg from dental amalgam fillings. Therefore, we postulate that all these recent findings, far from being conflictive, are consistent with our previous hypothesis and could be included as an additional environmental factor contributing to the release of Hg in mothers with dental amalgam fillings and consequently, to the increased probability of developing and/or aggravating autism among children.